Britney Wong Po-ni will be the first female apprentice to ride full-time in Hong Kong in seven years after she was granted a licence for next season.
The 25-year-old returns to her home country after riding in more than 600 races in Australia, notching 50 wins and 125 placings in her two-year development stint there.
She will be the first female rider on the Hong Kong roster since Kei Chiong Ka-kei’s two-year career in the saddle ended in 2017.
Wong returned to the city in April after an application for an extension of her visa was declined by the Australian government, due to a change in visas being issued to overseas students.
"Actually, I feel so happy about Motell winning because I'm riding him every morning..."
— Racing.com (@Racing) October 14, 2022
What a special win by Britney Wong on one of her favourites at Murray Bridge 🥰 pic.twitter.com/mDghggl7e3
Since returning to Hong Kong, Wong has ridden in 25 trials at Sha Tin and Conghua.
“The committee, by way of written resolution, resolved to grant an apprentice jockey’s licence to ride in races in Hong Kong to Britney Wong Po-ni from the commencement of the 2024/2025 racing season, provided that apprentice Wong is not permitted to ride in any race at Happy Valley racecourse until permission is granted by management,” the licensing committee’s Terry Bailey said in a statement on Friday.
“A release in relation to which trainer apprentice Wong will be allocated to will be issued at the appropriate time.”
Wong, who first joined the Jockey Club’s trainee program in 2016, will ride at a minimum weight of 105 pounds.
